Leak detection system

Abstract

A leak detection system for a coolant system includes a coolant reservoir including a coolant holding portion configured to store coolant for the coolant system and a gas holding portion, a reservoir inlet fluidically connected to the gas holding portion, a reservoir outlet fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion, and a pressure relief valve including a coolant inlet portion fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion and a pressure relief outlet. The pressure relief valve is configured to respond to pressure in the gas holding portion to vent coolant from the coolant holding portion through the pressure relief outlet without venting gas from the gas holding portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A leak detection system for a coolant system comprising:
 a coolant reservoir including a coolant holding portion configured to store coolant for the coolant system and a gas holding portion;   a reservoir inlet fluidically connected to the gas holding portion;   a reservoir outlet fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion; and   a pressure relief valve including a coolant inlet portion fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion and a pressure relief outlet, the pressure relief valve being configured to respond to pressure in the gas holding portion to vent coolant from the coolant holding portion through the pressure relief outlet without venting gas from the gas holding portion.   
     
     
         2 . The leak detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a spring configured to respond to a selected gas pressure in the gas holding portion to vent coolant from the coolant holding portion. 
     
     
         3 . The leak detection system according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a gas sensor arranged in the gas holding portion, the gas sensor being configured to detect refrigerant gas in the coolant reservoir; and   a leak alert system operatively connected to the gas sensor, the leak alert system being configured to provide one of an audible alert and a visual alert indicating a presence of refrigerant gas in the coolant holding portion.   
     
     
         4 . The leak detection system according to  claim 3 , wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect hydrocarbon (HC) gas. 
     
     
         5 . The leak detection system according to  claim 4 , wherein the HC gas is propane gas. 
     
     
         6 . The leak detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the coolant reservoir includes an inlet chamber including the reservoir inlet, an outlet chamber including the reservoir outlet, and a dividing wall separating the inlet chamber from the outlet chamber, the dividing wall including a coolant passage. 
     
     
         7 . The leak detection system according to  claim 6 , wherein the pressure relief valve is arranged in the outlet chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The leak detection system according to  claim 7 , wherein the inlet chamber includes a gas sensor and a bleed valve, the gas sensor being configured to detect refrigerant gas in the inlet chamber and the bleed valve providing a refrigerant gas outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The leak detection system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bleed valve fluidically connected to the gas holding portion, the bleed valve providing a pathway for removing refrigerant gas from the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . A dual secondary loop cooling system comprising:
 a primary heat exchanger including a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet;   a refrigeration module including a module housing surrounding a first heat exchanger coil fluidically connected to the coolant outlet of the primary heat exchanger and the coolant inlet of the primary heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger coil, and a refrigeration circuit that fluidically connects the first heat exchanger coil with the second heat exchanger coil; and   a leak detection system fluidically connected to the primary heat exchanger, the leak detection system including:
 a coolant reservoir including a coolant holding portion configured to store coolant for the dual secondary loop cooling system and a gas holding portion; 
 a reservoir inlet fluidically connected to the gas holding portion and the coolant inlet of the primary heat exchanger; 
 a reservoir outlet fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion and the coolant outlet of the primary heat exchanger; and 
 a pressure relief valve including a valve inlet fluidically connected to the coolant holding portion and a pressure relief outlet, the pressure relief valve being configured to respond to pressure in the gas holding portion to vent coolant from the coolant holding portion through the pressure relief outlet without venting gas from the gas holding portion. 
   
     
     
         11 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 a gas sensor arranged in the gas holding portion, the gas sensor being configured to detect refrigerant gas in the coolant reservoir; and   a leak alert system operatively connected to the gas sensor, the leak alert system being configured to provide one of an audible alert and a visual alert indicating a presence of refrigerant gas in the coolant holding portion.   
     
     
         12 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 11 , wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect hydrocarbon (HC) gas. 
     
     
         13 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 11 , wherein the gas holding portion includes an outlet fluidically connected to the module housing. 
     
     
         14 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 10 , wherein the coolant reservoir includes an inlet chamber including the reservoir inlet, an outlet chamber including the reservoir outlet, and a dividing wall separating the inlet chamber from the outlet chamber, the dividing wall including a coolant passage. 
     
     
         15 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 14 , wherein the pressure relief valve is arranged in the outlet chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 15 , wherein the inlet chamber includes a gas sensor and a bleed valve, the gas sensor being configured to detect refrigerant gas in the inlet chamber and the bleed valve providing a refrigerant gas outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a bleed valve fluidically connected to the gas holding portion, the bleed valve providing a pathway for removing refrigerant gas from the coolant reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The dual secondary loop cooling system according to  claim 10 , wherein the module housing includes a module coolant outlet including a gas sensor, the pressure relief outlet being fluidically connected to the module coolant outlet. 
     
     
         19 . A leak detection system for a cooling system comprising:
 a coolant reservoir including a coolant holding portion configured to store coolant for the cooling system, the coolant reservoir including a reservoir inlet, a reservoir outlet, and a pressure relief valve having a coolant inlet portion and a pressure relief outlet; and   a gas separator bottle including an internal volume, the gas separator bottle including a separator inlet connectable to the cooling system, a separator outlet connected to the reservoir inlet of the coolant reservoir, a gas sensor configured to detect refrigerant gas in the coolant holding portion.   
     
     
         20 . The leak detection system according to  claim 19 , wherein the gas separator bottle includes a bleed valve operable to remove refrigerant gas from the internal volume.